Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether an impact assessment has been conducted of delaying consideration of a specialised commissioned service until April 2027 on patients with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome).

Answered by Sharon Hodgson - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

The Government published the ME/CFS Final Delivery Plan in July 2025, which is available at the following link:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mecfs-the-final-delivery-plan

The plan focuses on three main areas to improve care and support for those with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), boosting research, improving attitudes and education, and bettering the lives of people with this debilitating disease. It also sets out a series of actions, which will help address the key challenges and drive forward improvements to outcomes and quality of life for people living with ME/CFS in England.

The Department worked closely with ME/CFS patients, carers, clinicians, charities, research funders and researchers throughout the development of the plan. This engagement has helped to shape new and more ambitious actions that deliver meaningful change for the ME/CFS community.

Due to transformation in NHS England, the decision has been made to delay the action to review a case for a specialised service commission until April 2027. Until this time, integrated care boards (ICBs) should continue to commission appropriate services for patients with very severe ME/CFS as needed. ICBs are responsible for the commissioning of services for all severity levels of ME/CFS. NHS England and the Department are developing a new template service specification for mild and moderate ME/CFS which will include reference to severe and very severe ME/CFS. Officials, alongside stakeholders, are considering interim measures to support people with very severe ME/CFS.

The Department and NHS England will continue to work with stakeholders across and beyond government and the NHS to progress the agreed actions set out in the plan and to ensure the best possible care for people with ME/CFS.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment she has made of the potential merits of introducing a statutory requirement for the deletion of custody images where no (a) charge and (b) conviction follows.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The retention and deletion of custody images is currently governed by the statutory Police and Information Management Code of Practice, and the associated College of Policing’s Management of Police Information (MoPI) guidance and Authorised Professional Practice. These require forces to retain images only where necessary and proportionate and to review and delete them in line with assessed continuing policing need. Individuals are also able to apply to the police to have their custody image deleted, where they believe continued retention is not necessary.

Following the recent public consultation on biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies, the government intends to bring forward a new legal framework covering biometric retention rules.

Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether her Department has issued guidance on using experimental methods in conjunction with facial recognition.

Answered by Sarah Jones - Minister of State (Home Office)

The Home Office has not issued specific guidance. Police use of facial recognition and similar technologies is currently governed by a legal framework that includes data protection, equality and human rights laws, national guidance, a code of practice and force level policies. The College of Policing has also published guidance and an Authorised Professional Practice setting out police forces use new technology. However, we intend to bring forward a new legal framework to provide clearer, more specific rules.

The Government’s aim is that a new legal framework will ensure all police forces across the country can use facial recognition and similar technologies with greater confidence, and that their uses and limits are clear to the public.

Last year, we launched a public consultation on when and how biometrics, facial recognition and similar technologies should be used, and what safeguards and oversight are needed.

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what is the content of the advice he has been given on the contract and performance of Palantir and the Federated Data Platform, particularly in relation to triggering the break clause in March 2027.

Answered by Preet Kaur Gill - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Department of Health and Social Care)

Ministers in the Department have been apprised of the nature of the NHS Federated Platform contract, that the seven-year contract term is split into an initial three-year term, plus extension options of two years, plus one year and one year, and that the initial term ends in March 2027. They have been notified therefore that the contract will be reviewed and, in line with standard contract management processes, that a decision will be needed on its extension. Ministers have received written and verbal briefing on the ongoing rollout of the NHS Federated Platform and the benefits achieved, including information which is published quarterly by NHS England at the following link:

https://www.england.nhs.uk/digitaltechnology/nhs-federated-data-platform/impact/fdp-uptake-and-benefits/

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how she plans to support businesses groups who wish to remain trans inclusive in the context of the updated EHRC Code of Practice.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government received an updated draft Code of Practice from the EHRC on 13 April, and, whilst we cannot comment on the draft Code, we intend to lay it in Parliament in May.

We have always been clear that duty bearers should set their policies in line with the law. If they are uncertain as to how to apply the Equality Act 2010, they should obtain specialist legal advice.

We have also always been clear that the laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment remain in place.

Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps she is taking to include Trans safety in the implementation of the updated EHRC Code of Practice.

Answered by Seema Malhotra - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office)

The Government received an updated draft Code of Practice from the EHRC on 13 April, and, whilst we cannot comment on the draft Code, we intend to lay it in Parliament in May.

We have always been clear that duty bearers should set their policies in line with the law. If they are uncertain as to how to apply the Equality Act 2010, they should obtain specialist legal advice.

We have also always been clear that the laws to protect trans people from discrimination and harassment remain in place.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, what discussions her Department has had with the Institute of Physics and Royal Astronomical Society on the planned changes to the budget of the Science and Technology Facilities Council.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next four years, including £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30, and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

DSIT maintains regular engagement with a broad range of sector organisations, and has engaged with the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society on this particular issue. DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful engagement with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Question to the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology:

To ask the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology, whether the Department has conducted an impact assessment on changes in the level of funding by the Science and Technology Facilities Council on trends in the level of (a) economic development and (b) STEM training, research and development.

Answered by Kanishka Narayan - Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) has committed a record £58.5 billion investment in R&D over the next four years, including £38.6 billion allocated to UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) within UKRI is maintaining its budget from £835 million in 2025/26 to £842 million in 2029/30, and is currently working with the sector to model different spending scenarios for its portfolio in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). The impacts of different modelled scenarios across the broad and diverse range of STFC-funded facilities and programmes will be considered alongside feedback from the sector when taking final decisions.

DSIT maintains regular engagement with a broad range of sector organisations, and has engaged with the Institute of Physics and the Royal Astronomical Society on this particular issue. DSIT has asked UKRI to ensure that its specific investment decisions are informed by meaningful engagement with the scientific research community and a robust assessment of potential consequences for the UK’s scientific capability, research institutions and international standing.

Bermuda and oil industry tax

Retirement of Tracy Thirlwall

Draft Code of Practice on Services, public functions and associations

Retirement leasehold service charges and exit fees

Government response to Israel’s actions in the West Bank and Gaza

Prison education insourcing

Interception of Global Sumud Flotilla vessels in international waters

National Emergency Briefing

78 years of the Palestinian Nakba

Foster Care Fortnight 2026

Payment of employment tribunal awards

Statutory rights for trade union future-proofing jobs representatives

UK digital sovereignty strategy

US sanctions on Cuba

UK-France one-in, one-out migration pilot

Hillsborough Law